NOBODY HAS ALL THE ANSWERS

NOBODY HAS THE COMPLETE ANSWER TO ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE

BY LT COL BL SACHDEVA (RETIRED)

I am in the field of spiritual search for the major portion of my life. I have studied practically all world religions, their beliefs and Philosophy. No two religions agree on all matters. Their conclusions are based on personal experience of their founder which is intrinsically limited. Most of religions are based on the verdict of single prophet. What is written or supposedly taught by the founder is accepted as undisputable truth and no deviation is acceptable to those fundamental dogmas or concepts.

HOWEVER Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions which are broader based and accept the contemporary views and concepts since they are dynamic religions. That is the reason for mushrooming sects and offshoots in these religions. Sikhs who were a sect within Hinduism have now become a separate religion Buddhism has also many offshoots and sects. Mahayana and Theravada are two main traditions in Buddhism. There are no fixed dogmas and Philosophy in Hinduism. Even an atheists, hedonists and materialists can be Hindus. It has the maximum freedom.

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Buddha also advocated that each person has to be light unto oneself

The following differences have not been resolved and people hold diverse views and beliefs on these issues

(a) Existence of God and its attributes.

(b) Existence of soul or Atma

(c) Life after death and incarnation

(d) Consequences of good and evil deeds in present life

(e) Existence of heaven and hell.

(f) Nature of enlightenment and means to achieve it.

(g) Underlying and fundamental cause of creation and existence.

- However situation is not utterly hopeless. Almost all religions agree on ethical values, good conduct, love and compassion for all humanity. In other words they exhort their followers to follow the golden principle of doing unto others what one expects from others for oneself.

Even Nirankari Babaji stresses on proper living of this life . He has said a number of times that birth and death are two shores of the river. The importance is the quality of water flowing in these shores. Therefore the emphasis is laid on the quality of our living. The Buddha bypassed these theoretical questions by giving an example of a person afflicted with the wound of an arrow . If he starts questioning on the material of the arrow, its manufacturer, the type of bow used for its firing, and the nationality and caste of the person who shot the arrow; he is indulging in unimportant pursuits. He should rather take all possible help for getting rid of the arrow and healing the wound otherwise he will die before getting answers to all his questions. The basic fact is that humanity is suffering and unless the religion can ameliorate the suffering; it is a case of another useless pursuit and waste of time.